Shelf structure including directory holder



Jan. 11, 1966 H. s 3,228,648

SHELF STRUCTURE INCLUDING DIRECTORY HOLDER Filed Aug. 4, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG.2

@ INVENTOR.

GLEN H. TILS BY 134M, A1 0 M A TTOR NEYJ:

FIG.i

Jan. 11, 1966 G. H. TlLS SHELF STRUCTURE INCLUDING DIRECTORY HOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 4, 1964 INVENTOR GLEN H. TILS I ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,228,648 SHELF STRUCTURE INCLUDING DIRECTORY HOLDER Glen H. Tils, Forest Park, Ga., assignor to Gladwin Plastics, Inc., Atlanta, Ga., a corporation of Georgia Filed Aug. 4, 1964, Ser. No. 387,421 8 Claims. (Cl. 248-447) This invention relates to shelf structures which include a directory holder and more specifically to a novel shelf structure including a directory holder particularly suitable for use at a public telephone enclosure where a directory is provided adjacent the telephone.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel shelf structure including a directory holder in which the associated directory, after use, will be removed from the immediate area of the telephone, entirely of its own weight.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel shelf structure including a directory holder that positively maintains the directory when not in use, in a closed and protected position substantially concealed from view and clear of the telephone user and yet provides quick and convenient access to the directory.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a shelf structure that may also be employed to house telephone apparatus in a concealed manner, unprone to tampering and that further provides a shelf member upon which a person may write or rest articles while using the telephone.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a shelf structure including a directory holder that will achieve the above objects and yet has an unobtrusive appearance in addition to a durable construction which may be easily and economically manufactured and incorporated into both new and old telephone booths or enclosures while being applicable to telephone directories with standard holder attachments.

Other objects and the entire scope of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and by reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent as the description herein progresses. Reference now being made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a public telephone euclosure incorporating a shelf structure including a directory holder embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken generally along lines 22 of FIG. 1 but with certain portions broken away and additionally illustrating a raised position of the directory.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged exploded view, in perspective, of portions of the shelf structure and directory holder; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged bottom view, in perspective, of the shelf structure and directory holder shown in FIG. 1 with portions broken away and the directory removed.

Referring to the drawings in detail, a shelf structure and directory holder generally designated 1 embodying the invention is shown for illustrative purposes only, as being employed to support a directory 2 at a public telephone enclosure 3 which includes a back wall 4 and a 3,228,648 Patented Jan. 11, 1966 "ice member 10 horizontally disposed between sidewalls 6 at the base of enclosure 3 and being of a size sufficient to adequately support directory 2 in open position. Opening into the front edge 12 of shelf member 10 intermediate the ends thereof is a generally U shape slot 14 which extends transversely toward the rear edge 13 of the shelf member and terminates at a back edge 15 approximately at the center of shelf member 10. The width of slot 14 is dimensioned to freely receive the telephone directory 2 when the latter is closed and vertically oriented (such as shown in FIG. 1) so that the directory may pass through slot 14 between an idle or storage position below shelf 10 (see FIG. 1) and an opened position on top of the shelf where it is read in the normal manner.

Below shelf member 10 on opposite sides of slot 14 there are a pair of rectangular compartments 20 each formed by pairs of opposite and parallel side and end walls generally designated 22 and 24, that depend from the bottom of shelf member 10 and are suitably fixed thereto. Compartments 20 are dimensioned to receive and conceal portions of the telephone apparatus such as a ringer box (not shown) and as seen in FIG. 4, compartments 20 are open at their lower ends so as to provide access for installation or maintenance of its retained telephone apparatus as well as parts of the holder to be subsequently described.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention there is provided a means for mounting the directory 2 for rectilinear and pivotal movement between the closed position shown in FIG. 1 and the opened position on top of shelf member 10 with its covers 2a spread on opposite sides of slot 14. In the illustrated embodiment this mounting means includes a pair of elongated slots 30 formed in inter-alignment through inner side walls 22a of compartments 20. Slots 30 extend at an incline of approximately 30 from high points 32 adjacent back edge 15 ofU shape opening 14 downwardly to low points 34 adjacent the rear end walls 24 of compartments 21).

Received in slots 30 for slideable movement is a pin 40 extending across the space between compartments 20 with its opposite ends 42 projecting through slots 30 into compartments 20 respectively as indicated in FIG. 3. Pin 40 is dimensioned to be rotatably received through a standard bracket member 35 (see FIG. 2) fixed to the binding end of directory 2 in the usual manner whereby the directory may be rotated in a vertical plane about pin 40.

For maintaining cross-pin 40 in slots 30 against longitudinal movement there are provided in the specific embodiment, a pair of thumb screws Stl received in opposite ends 42 of cross-pin 40; cross-pin ends 42 having internal threads 44 co-operable with those of screws 50. Two pairs of washers 56 and 58 are placed on screws 50 and pin 40 on opposite faces of side walls 22a to complete the pin assembly. Washers 56 and 58 are engageable with side walls 22a to limit longitudinal movement of pin 40 as well as to maintain it horizontal to thereby prevent binding in slots 30. Removal of directory 2 for replacement is conveniently effected by loosening thumb screws 50 and longitudinally withdrawing pin 40 from its associated bracket member 35.

Referring to FIG. 2, high points 32 of slots 30 are positioned relative to the top of shelf member 10 and in front of back edge 15 of slot 12 such that when crosspin 40 is located at high points 32, the directory covers 2a may be opened (after pivoting the book outwardly and upwardly) without interference from the side edges of slot 14 and when subsequently released, the directory will, of its own weight, pivot about pin 40 to a position below shelf 10 whereupon the incline of slots 30 will cause the directory to slide downwardly and rearwardly until pin 40 reaches low points 34 of slot 30. Moreover the width of opening 14 is made so that as the directory falls through opening 14, the directory is engaged by the side edges of opening 14 and is thereby guided to its storage position.

While in the closed position below shelf member 10, the directory is maintained closed by side walls 22a which are appropriately spaced to achieve this purpose as well as to insure that the directory will be properly aligned below opening 14 so that it may be smoothly raised without striking the underside of shelf member 10. Further to this end, the side walls 22a are provided with extensions 70 that depend downwardly from the lower ends thereof in parallel relationship so as to form continuous surfaces from the top of side walls 22a to the bottom of directory 2 when the latter is closed below shelf member 10. As shown in FIG. 1, extensions 70 are dimensioned to substantially cover the directory in its closed position, except for the front portion of the directory which projects beyond extensions 70 where it may be conveniently grasped by the user.

In order to arrest and steady the directory as it swings into its lowermost position, there is provided a back-up wall 72 located between compartments 20 and projecting downwardly along the rear edges of extensions 70 so as to be co-extensive therewith. In the preferred embodiment, a resilient bumper 95 is fixed to back-up wall 72 as shown in FIG. 2 to cushion impact on the directory.

In constructing the shelf structure and directory holder of the present invention wood panels covered with a suitable smooth, wear-resistant sheet material 76 as shown in FIG. 3 may be employed. For avoiding wear at the edges of slot 14, a generally U shaped border member 80 formed from suitable sheet metal is preferably provided to cover the edges of slot 14. Border member 80 includes a top wall 82 which engages the top surface of shelf member bordering slot 14; a side wall 84 which depends from top wall 82 and engages the edges of slot 14; and a pair of end walls 88 which engage the corner areas between the edges of slot 14 and front edge 12 of panel 10. Securement of border member 80 to shelf member 10 is accomplished by means of a pair of flanges 87 projecting outwardly from plate walls 84 and attached to the underside of shelf member 10 such as by screws 89.

Similarly in the preferred embodiment, wear between cross-pin 40 and the edges of slots 30 is reduced by means of a pair of angle plates 90 each provided with an inclined slot 91 corresponding to slots 30 in side walls 22a. Angle plates 90 are secured such as by screws 94 to side walls 22a so that their slots 91 are super-imposed over slots 30 in side walls 22a. Angle plate slots 91 are of a slightly lesser width than those in side walls 22a so that cross-pin 40 will bear on the edges of angle plate slots 91.

'From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention provides a unique shelf structure including a directory holder which eliminates many of the space and maintenance problems heretofore characteristic 011 1316}- phone enclosures, without correspondingly requiring an increase in the space occupied by the overall enclosure.

As will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, various modifications and adaptations, of the structure above described will become readily apparent without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A shelf structure including a holder for a telephone directory or the like comprising; a shelf member having front and rear edges and an opening extending transversely between the front and rear edges dimensioned to receive a closed directory, a pair of side walls depending from the shelf member on opposite sides of said opening, said side walls being spacedand dimensioned to receive and cover a closed directory, means for mounting a directory between said side walls for rectilinear and pivotal movement between a closed position between said side walls below said shelf member and an open position on said shelf member, said means including a pair of aligned slots in said side walls extending generally in the direction of said opening and downwardly at an incline towards a point generally below said rear edge of the shelf member, and a cross pin having its opposite ends received in said slots for slideable movement along said slots when the directory is moved between its open and closed positions and abutment means located below the low points of said slots to be engageable with the directory to support the directory in upright position.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 wherein opposite edges of said opening are spaced to engage and guide the covers of the directory and to permit the directory to pivot by gravity into said closed position upon release of the directory from said opened position, and said side walls are spaced to be engageable with the covers of the directory to maintain the directory closed and to guide the directory during movement between said opened and closed positions.

3. A shelf structure including a holder for a telephone directory and the like comprising a shelf member having front and rear edges and a generally U shaped opening dimensioned to receive a closed directory, said opening extending from said front edge towards said rear edge and terminating in a back edge intermediate said front and rear edges, a pair of side walls depending from the shelf member on opposite sides of said opening and spaced to receive a closed directory, means for mounting a directory between said side walls for rectilinear and pivotal movement between a closed position below said shelf member and an opened position on said shelf member including a pair of aligned slots formed in said side walls, said slots being inclined from high points located between the back edge of said opening and the front edge of said shelf member and low points located generally below said rear edge of the shelf member, and a cross-pin having its opposite ends slideably received in said slots for movement between the high and low points thereof, said cross-pin adapted to be rotatably received by a directory to mount the directory for pivotal movement about the pin and abutment means located below the low points of said slots to be engageable with the directory to support the directory in upright position.

4. A shelf structure including a holder for a telephone directory and the like comprising a shelf member having opposite front and rear edges and a generally U shaped opening extending between said edges and terminating in a back edge intermediate said front and rear edges, a pair of compartments below said shelf member on opposite sides of said U shaped opening dimensioned to receive telephone apparatus, said compartments being formed by pairs of opposite walls depending downwardly from the shelf member and fixed to the underside of .said shelf member, said compartment walls including a pair of side walls located on opposite sides of said U shape opening spaced to receive a directory in closed position, means for mounting a directory for rectilinear movement below said shelf member and for pivotal movement through said opening between a closed position below the shelf member and an opened position on the shelf member including a pair of aligned slots located in said side walls and inclined between high points located between the back edge of said U shaped opening and the front edge of said shelf member and low points located generally below the rear edge of said shelf member, a cross-pin having its opposite ends received in said slots for slideable movement between the high and low points thereof, said cross-pin adapted to be rotatably received by a directory to thereby mount the directory for pivotal movement about said pin between said positions, the opposite edges of said U shape opening being spaced to guide the covers of the directory and permit the directory to pivot by gravity into said closed position from said opened position, said side walls being spaced to be engageable with the covers of the directory to maintain the directory closed and to guide the same during movement between said positions.

5. A shelf structure including a directory holder as defined in claim 4 wherein a pair of plates having inclined slots are fixed to said side walls with the slots of said plates super-imposed over the slots in said side walls, the slots of said plates having a width slightly less than that of the slots in said side walls whereby the cross-pin is engageable with the edges of the slots in said plates.

6. A shelf structure including a directory holder as defined in claim 4 wherein said pin has a plurality of threads on the opposite ends thereof and wherein there are provided a pair of threaded members co-operable with said threads in said pin, and two pairs of washers each are provided about the axis of said pin on opposite sides of said side walls and engageable with said side walls whereby said pin is maintained in said slots in horizontal position.

7. A shelf structure including a directory holder as defined in claim 5 wherein there is fixed to said shelf member a border member of sheet material covering the edges of said U shape opening.

8. A shelf structure including a holder for a telephone directory or the like comprising; a shelf member having front and rear edges and an opening extending transversely between the front and rear edges dimensioned to receive a closed directory, a pair of side walls depending from the shelf member on opposite sides of said opening, said side walls being spaced and dimensioned to receive and cover a closed directory, means for mounting a directory between said side walls for rectilinear and pivotal movement between a closed position between said side walls below said shelf member and an open position on said shelf member, said means including a pair of aligned slots in said side walls extending generally in the direction of said opening and downwardly at an incline towards points generally below said rear edge of the shelf member and pin means received in said slots for slideable movement along said slots when the directory is moved between its open and closed positions, and abutment means located below the low points of said slots to be engageable with the directory to support the directory in upright position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 319,732 6/1885 Lauer 297259 1,238,899 9/1917 Enell 248-447 1,796,496 3/1931 Volkmar 312-233 2,427,012 9/ 1947 Lum 312-265 2,494,382 1/ 1950 Faulkner et al. 312233 2,794,697 6/1957 Bergman 312233 2,862,329 12/ 1958 Guinane et a1. 248447 FOREIGN PATENTS 336,954 4/ 1959 Switzerland.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

I. F. FOSS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A SHELF STRUCTURE INCLUDING A HOLDER FOR A TELEPHONE DIRECTORY OR THE LIKE COMPRISING: A SHELF MEMBER HAVING FRONT AND REAR EDGES AND AN OPENING EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY BETWEEN THE FRONT AND REAR EDGES DIMENSIONED TO RECIEVE A CLOSED DIRECTORY, A PAIR OF SIDE WALLS DEPENDING FROM THE SHELF MEMBER ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID OPENING, SAID SIDE WALLS BEING SPACED AND DIMENSIONED TO RECEIVE AND COVER A CLOSED DIRECTORY, MEANS FOR MOUNTING A DIRECTORY BETWEEN SAID SIDE WALLS FOR RECTILINEAR AND PIVOTAL MOVEMENT BETWEEN A CLOSED POSITION BETWEEN SAID SIDE WALLS BELOW SAID SHELF MEMBER AND AN OPEN POSITION ON SAID SHELF MEMBER, SAID MEANS INCLUDING A PAIR OF ALIGNED SLOTS IN SAID SIDE WALLS EXTENDING GENERALLY IN THE DIRECTION OF SAID OPENING AND DOWNWARDLY AT AN INCLINE TOWARDS A POINT GENERALLY BELOW SAID REAR EDGE OF THE SHELF MEMBER, AND A CROSS PIN HAVING ITS OPPOSITE ENDS RECEIVED IN SAID SLOTS FOR SLIDEABLE MOVEMENT ALONG SAID SLOTS WHEN THE DIRECTORY IS MOVED BETWEEN ITS OPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONS AND ABUTMENT MEANS LOCATED BELOW THE LOW POINTS OF SAID SLOTS TO BE ENGAGEABLE WITH THE DIRECTORY TO SUPPORT THE DIRECTORY IN UPRIGHT POSITION. 